Method and means for pitting fruit



March 19, 1929. J. RAMSLIE 1,706,322

METHOD AND MEANS FOR FITTING FRUIT Filed Oct 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar". 19, 1929.

JOHN RAMS LIE, OF BUBLINGAME, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PIT'IING FRTTIT.

Application filed October. 9, 1926. Serial No. 140,653.

My invention relates to the method and means for removing pits from thepulp; of cooked fruit, and is applicable to various fruits'such as forexample prunes, apricots,

peaches, dates and the like.

The general object of my invention is to produce a separation ofthe'fruit pulp from the pits by a fluidblast under pressure and soemployed as to cause the pulp and pits to be separately directed tosuitable receptacles,

the use of compressed air or steam being employed for the purpose.

The nature of my invention and its dis- ;tinguishing' features andadvantages will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecifica; tion, it being understood that the drawings are merelyillustrative of one example of the invention. I

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus for carrying outmyinvention, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 1-1 inFigure 2.

Figure 2 is a sectional plane view, the

section being taken on the llne 2-2 in Figure. 1.

Figure3 is a detail in transverse vertical 7 section on the line 3-3 inFigure 2. so Figure 4 is a vertical section of the lower end of the pipefor directing the blast of air or steam agamst the. fruit on the screen.

Figure 5 is a detail in vertical section 0 vthe central post and itssupporting means.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated examplea screen 10 is provided vantageous 4 tinuity; the screen 10 is hereshown as having support at the top of a central post 11. Cross arms 14are provided as part of the screen frame and pivoted by pin 20 to saidost 11. The frame is/ completed in the orm shown by space rings'liiadjacent the inner and outer edges 0 the screen; said rings beingsecured by bolts 16. In line with post 11 is aligning post 17 receivinga screw 18 at the lower end; said screw having 59 head 19 forming asocket resting on the bearin;;- pin 20---on the post 11.' Post 11 has adepending pin 12 at the lower end which is which, in'the preferred andad form of the invention is made in the form of a ring of unbroken con-.27 against the screen 10.

" The numeral 30 indicates a kettle suspended above the screen andadapted to contain a quantity of fruit to be being shown as hun by ahanger rod 31 from the ,ceiling B. ipe 27 at its discha e end has alaterally deflected nozzle 32. ormed integrally with one wall of saidnozzle is a short'vertlcal partition 33 dividing the outlet or lower endof pipe 27 into two discharge passages.

With the described construction the fruit is dumped or raked from thekettle 30 and will bedirected to screen 10 through the open bottom ofhop er 23; The blast of air or steam escaping mm the pi 27 at one sideof partition 33 which wil direct the blast against the fruit (b) passingbeneath the discharge end of said pipe f scribed mountingof the screen10 permits of the same being manual? 27. The deturned, but it will bereadily understoo that the said screen may be turned by any suitablemeans. The blast of air strips thepulp from the pits indicated at b andas said pits 1) travel beneath the laterally deflected nozzle 32 asecond blast of air or steam will be directed pitted, said kettle.

at the other side of the partition 33 onto said pits. The firstmentioned blast of air or steam will cause the stripped pulp to ,bedinoted to any suitable receptacle 34 while strip ed pits b will traveltoward any suita 1e receptacle indicated at 35.

I would state furthermore, scribed means for carrying out my inventionconstitute one practical construction for the purpose, but it will beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the exact details illustratedsince, manifestly,

the same can be conthat the desiderabl varied without departing from thespirit 0 the invention as defined in the appended claims,

' I claim:

1. In a method of removing the fruit ulp from pits of cooked fruit, thestep 0 d1- recting an air blast against the softened fruit with a forceto strip the pulp from the its. p 2. In a method of separating the pulpof cooked fruit from pits, the step of causing an air blast to strip thesoftened pulp from the pits and direct the pulp and pits in differentdirections to effect separation of the same.

3. In an apparatus for removing fruit pulp from pits and separating thetwo, a

screen, means to direct the fruit onto the screen, and a blast pipe fordirecting the.

fluid under pressure against the fruit on the screen, said blast pipehaving a duplex outlet, one of the outlets having a laterally deflectednozzle.

4. In an apparatus for removing fruit pulp from pits, a central post, ascreen frame turnably mounted on said post, a screen on said screenframe, a post above the screen, a turnable support on the firstmentioned post, a hopper disposed above said screen and having an openbottom to direct the fruit onto the screen, a blast pipe adapted todirect a blast of fluid under pressure against the fruit on the screen,and a fruit holder suspended above the hopper in advance of said blastpipe and adapted to hold the fruit to be deposited onto the screenthrough said hopper.

JOHN RAMSLIE.

